Posture correcting foundation garment



Nov. 2, 1943. L. o. ALLEN POSTURE CORRECTING FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed Feb. 19, 1942 INVENTOR.

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Patented Nov. 2, 1943 UNITED STATE POS'IURE oonnncrme FOUNDATION 1 GARMENT Y Lena 0. Allen, Marion, Ind. Applieationfebruary 19, 1942, serial ,No. 431,504

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a foundation garment for posture correction.

The chief object of this invention is to provide in a foundation garment means to -hold in the stomach and to hold back the hips.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment that may be said to be adjustable to size by including adjustable portions therein and extensible .portions therein as will be set forth more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the adjustment is included in that portion of the garment which fits the sides .of the body so that the garment for a given size individual may readily conform to the specific shape .of that individual without undue discomfort, et cetera, and 1v at the same time retain the posture correction function of the garment.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a foundation garment, means which will provide as much freedom as possible at the waist 4 the garment, which provides for posture correction without discomfort, bulging, .or the like.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing andthe following description and claims:

In the drawing Fig. '1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention in the flat or opened position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the back portion of l a slightly modified form of the invention. 7

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I0 indicates a central panel and H and [2 the two side panels, of the front portion, suitably secured together as indicated at l3 and M, respectively. The central panel H) is not as long as the two end panels and there is provided an elastic insert or extension 15 at the lower end of said panel Ill. This insert I5 is provided to yield or stretch when the wearer is seated. There are also provided, if desired, the F flexible stays 16 which are preferably arranged in concealed arrangement. This panel is cut so that the woof or crosswise threads of the material run from side edge to side edge of the panels. Secured to each of the end panels as at H and 18 is a hose supported l8 having the clamp formation 20, conventional in character, and adapt ed for hose support.

Extending from one side edge to the opposite side edge of the front, including the two end panels H and I2 and the central panel HI and at the top thereof, is an appreciable width of material designated by the numeral 21, the upper edge of which corresponds with the upper edges of. said: panels and the lower edge of which ter-v minates as indicated at 2.2. The woofthreads of this material preferably extend from the edge 22 to the upper edge of the front panel. All of these parts are suitably stitched together and the several seams are taped so as to avoid raw edges, thereby preventing skin irritation incident to use of the garment.

There are alsoprovided two side panels 23 and 24. These are of elastic material, and their adjacent ends are suitably connected at 25 and 26 to a back portion. Side panel 23 has its opposite side edge at 21 connected to the one side edge of the front end panel H. The side panel 21 has its side edge, opposite the edge '26 secured to the-.backportion, provided with one portion of a zipper fastener construction, same being indicated by the numeral 28. The other portion of this zipper fastener construction, as indicated by the numeral 29, is secured to the free side edge of the other front end panel l2. The zipper fastener or connector is indicated by the numeral 38. In place of such a fastener, hooks and eyes, a lacing arrangement or any other equivalent fastening construction may be provided to secure the garment in body enveloping relation.

Reference now will be had to the left hand portion of Fig; '1 wherein there is illustrated more particularly the back portion. Herein said back portion includes a band of approximate half the width of the entire back and the same is designated by the numeral 31. It is of elastic web type and is suitably connected at its ends to the side panels :23 and 24 as at 32wand 33, respectively. Its lower edge is indicated by the numeral 35 and it is connected to a panel portion 36.

The woof threads of this panel 36 extend from side to side. Secured to the inside or underface *of this lower panel portion 35 of the back portion are two crossed bands or strips, indicated generally by the numbers 31 and 38. These bands are suitably stitched to the back portion'panel 3.6 and to the elastic band 3|, as shown. Each strip 31 and 38 terminates at a lower corner of the panel 36 and secured thereto as at 39b is the upper end of a hose supporter 39 having the fastening element 40. Supporter portions l9 and 39 may be of adjustable character, as indicated at |9a and 39a.

The upper portion of the band 38 terminates in a free extension 4| and the same lies outside of the side panel 23. On the upper end of this extension 4| and on the inside face are provided a plurality of fasteners, herein shown for convenience, in the form of hooks 42. The other strip 31 has a similar free extension 43 provided at its upper end and upon the interior thereof with a series of hooks 44.

The front portion in each of the end panels formation of the wearer, and furthermore, the portion 3| provides sufllcient freedom in bending and the portion I5 provides sufllcient freedom in sitting and as a result the garment does not roll the lower panel portion 36 whether this portion numeral 45 for panel H and 43 for panel l2.

Each of these reenforcements mounts a similarnumber of complementary anchorages 41 and 48, respectively. Herein but two sets of eyes per reenforcement are illustrated, the hook and eye connection being the type of detachable connection illustrated but it is to be understood that other types may be provided, such as buttons and buttonholes, glove fasteners, et cetera. It will be observed that each of the reenforcements is secured to the non-extensible portion of the front portion of the garment. Thus, all strain imposed thereon does not'stretch this part of the garment but gives support to the abdomen and this strain, to insure proper posture, is transmitted to this front upper band portion by the free ends 4|. and 43 of the crossed strip arrangement that is included in the back portion appreciably below the waist line thereon. The two crossed strips at their upper edges have a vV-outlineas it were, and this crossing issubstantially coincident with the lower end of the spine of the wearer. The band 3| provides elasticity or stretch accommodation when the wearer of the garment desires to bend over. The manner. of adjustment is substantially as follows:

The waist measure of the wearer is determined. ,The two ends 4| and 43 of the crossed strips 31 and 38 are then associated by the hooks with the proper sets of eyes so that the desired peripheral length at the waist line will be provided by the garment. When the garment is used, it then is enveloped about the body and the zipper fastener construction is closed and any other accommodation required is provided by the elastic side panels 23 and 24, and uniformly so that the front and back of the garment will remain immediately in front of and immediately behind the wearer respectively.

To secure additional strength in lieu of the single panel 36 in the back, there may be provided two substantially triangular panels, as shown, and these two substantially triangular panels lap each other, as illustrated,and.below each and to the same are stitched the strips indicated by the numerals 31 and 38. There is thus provided a triangular lower panel portion at the immediate lower edge of the back portion which is of double thickness and this is the portion that receives the greatest wear and strain incident to use of the garment; All strains therein as well as those transmitted by the hose supporters 39 are in'turn transmitted through the free end portions 4| and 43 to the non-stretchable upper front band portion designated by the numeral 2|. This insures that the abdomen is held in and the back is properly supported.

The resulting construction, as stated, initially herein, permits a garment of this general character and of the adjusted size, to readily accomodate itself to the individual peculiarities of con- I I angular pieces.

be made in one piece or in two substantially tri- This change in direction insures comparatively little stretching or longitudinal elongation in the peripheral band means, which extends across the upper front of the garment and thence extends downwardly and rearwardly across the hips, and immediately above the same, thence extends downwardly and crosses substantially coincident with spine termination position and extends to and terminates at the lower corners of the back portion.

Reference now will be had to Fig. 2 wherein a slightly modified form of the .invention is illustrated. In this form of the invention it is to be understood that the front portion is constructed substantially identical to that shown in Fig. 1. Numerals of the I00 series in Fig. 2 indicate like or similar parts. In thisforrn of the invention, the back web band |3| has its connection to the remainder of the back portion designated by the numeral I36, such connection being indicated by the numeral I35 above the V-shaped form or edge indicated by the letter V. In Fig. 1 it will be observed this connection 35 is slightly below such V connection.

In this form of the invention, also, th back portion is shown formed of three independent panels, same including the central panel I60, a side panel |6| and another side panel I62, these anels being secured together by the taped seams I63 and IE4, respectively.

In all instances, this embodiment of the invention is the same as that illustrated in Fig.1, although it is to be observed in this form the depth of the back webbing, is only about one,- third of the entire depth or length of the back wall while in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the depth of the webbing is approximately half of the back portion at its maximum width. I

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered a illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within-the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, side panels therebetween, and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said meansterminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion.

2. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secur posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, side panels therebetween,

means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of th back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, and a hose supporter substantially longitudinally aligned with said means at each termination thereof and strain transmittingly connected thereto.

3. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, elastic side panels therebetween, and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, said means and front portion being lapped, such lapped arrangement being of longitudinal non-extensible character.

4. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, side panels therebetween,

and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardl at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, said means including a longitudinally adjustable connection therein.

5. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to Secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, lastic side panels therebetween, and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased rela tion intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, said means including a pair of longitudinally adjustable connections therein, each being juxtapositioned relative to and free of the adjacent side panel.

6. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, side panels therebetween, and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, the back portion having an elastic insert therein at the upper portion,

'7. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, side panels therebetween, and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, the back portion having an elastic insert therein at the upper portion, and having a V-shaped lower connection with the crossed means.

8. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, elastic side panels therebetween, and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, the back portion having an elastic insert therein at the upper portion, said back portion insert being of band type and lapped at its lower corners by said means.

9. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, elastic side panels therebetween, and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, the back portion having an elastic insert therein at the upper portion, said back portion insert being of band type and lapped at its lower corners by said means, and having a V-shaped lower connection with the crossed means.

10. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, elastic side panels therebetween, and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, said front portion having a lower central elastic insert therein.

11. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, elastic side panels therebetween, means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, said front portion having a lower central elastic insert therein, and flexible stay means thereabove.

12. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, elastic side panels therebetween, and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, the back portion having an elastic insert therein at the upper portion, said back portion insert being of band type and lapped at its lower corners by said means, the band lower edge connection to the remainder of the back portion lying "above the upper V-edges of the crossed means.

13. A foundation garment for torso envelopment to secure posture correction and having a front portion, a back portion, elastic side panels therebetween, and means extending across the upper front portion and directed rearwardly and downwardly at the panels and crossing in biased relation intermediate the top and bottom of the back portion, said means terminating adjacent the lower corners of said back portion, the back portion having an elastic insert therein at the upper portion, said back portion insert being of band type and lapped at its lower corners by said means, the band lower edge connection to the remainder of the back portion lying below the upper V.-edges of the crossed means.

LENA O. ALLEN. 

